Eating insects is a common practice in most places, at least outside of the United States and Europe.

By Janet Raloff, 00:00 AM September 3, 2008

This summer, the Audubon Nature Institute is opening another museum in New Orleans. Its restaurant will offer everything from soup and main courses to desserts. But the foods will contain ingredients U.S. diners would usually complain about finding on their plates: bugs.

Buffet offering in Thailand of stir-fried grubs with chilis.

P.B. Durst/UNFAO

We’re talking about grasshoppers, the worm-like larvae of wax moths, ants — even the occasional dragonfly.